Folding container



ML-M

Nov. 10, 1959 LANGE 2,912,153

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1 Nov. 10,1959 F. LANG; 2,912,153

FOLDING CONTAINER Filed Feb. 8, 1957 IO-Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor? Famwmupbqme Nov. 10, 1959 F. 'LANGE FOLDING CONTAINER 10 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 8. 1957 FE'KD\ Nam) LANGE Nov. 10, 1959 F. LANGE. 2,912,153

7 FOLDING CONTAINER Filed Feb. 8, 1957 IO-SheetS-Sheet 4 [Wendy/1' Feavmmq L a Nov.-10, 1959 F. LA'NGE 2,912,153

FOLDING CONTAINER Filed Feb. 8, 1957 IO-SheetS-Sheet s Im enfa n' Fe amn mm Lanes Nov. 10, 1959 F. LANGE I 2,912,153

FOLDING CONTAINER v Filed Feb. 8. 1957 IO Sheets-Sheet 6 Inventor! Nbv. 10, 1959 F. LANGE 2,912,153

FOLDING conmmn med Feb. 8. 1957 I 10 Sheets-Sheet FERPINANDLANGE Nov. 10, 1959 Filed Feb. 8. 1957 F. LANGE.

FOLDING CONTAINER Feamuan L Nov. 10, 1959 F. LANGE 2,912,153

FOLDING CONTAINER Filed Feb. 8, 1957 10 Sheets-Sheet 9 FE RDINAND Lmuee Nov. 10, 1959 F. LANGE 2,912,153

FOLDING CONTAINER Filed Feb. 8, 1957 lQSheets-Sheet 1o 9 6 jm emorz" United States Patent FOLDING CONTAINER Ferdinand Lange, Minden, Westphalia, Germany Application February 3, 1957, Serial No. 638,969 Claims priority, application Germany February 10, 1956 6 Claims. (Cl. 229-16) The invention relates to a method of producing a folding container from a single blank having a surrounding marginal strip, and a folding container produced by this method.

There is a need for folding containers which are not only simple to manufacture and save as much blank material as possible, but which are also completely steamtight and aroma-tight when suitable material is used. Such folding containers are used primarily for packing foodstuffs and luxuries but also for storing and transporting liquids.

According to the invention, such folding containers can be produced by providing a blank, which can be folded to form at least two closing strips disposed on opposite sides of the container, with extensions which together have the dimensions of the opposite portion of the blank, the lateral marginal strip portions of which can be folded over the remaining marginal strip portions forming the lateral closing strips, and the front marginal strip portions of which are preferably at least as wide as the lateral closing strips and can be folded to form a front closing strip, and by first the front closing strip and then the lateral closing strips being sealed, stuck or the like in such a manner that the closing zones of the individual closing strips intersect and form an uninterrupted closing zone.

The said extensions, hereinafter referred to as lid extensions, for the sake of simplicity, although they may also form container walls which do not serve as a lid, thus come to rest withtheir lateral marginal-strip portions on marginal-strip portions of the remaining blank, with which they form the lateral closing strips, while their frontmarginal strip portions form the front closing strip, which has to be first welded, and which is'then turned over and comes to rest partially on the' lateral closing strips. The lateral closing strips may, to advantage, be arranged on lateral edges of the container and the front closing strip may be arranged spaced apart from the edge of the containersubstantially by the width of the closing strips, the lateral marginal strip portions of the lid extensions being folded about fold edges at an angle of 45 over the marginal strip portions forming the lateral closing strips so that they come to rest at .least partially on the adjacent marginal strip portion. The closing strips are then either completely invisible or can easily be covered.

It is immaterial how the lateral closing strips are formed, that is, how the lateral surfaces on which the closing strips are arranged, are constructed. The side walls, on the upper edges of which the lateral closing strips are arranged, may also be folded'in any desired manner. The only prerequisite is that lateral closing strips should be produced wherein all outer edges or cut edges of the marginal strip portions forming said closing strips lie outside the closing zone. Nor should any unwelded passages along the folded edges between the I marginal strip portions lead into the interior ,of the cont'ainer. The closing zsirespreje'cted on' the" marginal strips then form an uninterrupted strip which is merely bent at a right angle at the marginal-strip folding edges which run at an angle of 45.

If the procedure described above has been followed, the closing zones formed at the lateral closing strips now intersect the closing zone which was previously formed from the front marginal strip portions of the lid extensions. There is thus produced, again projected on the marginal strip portions of the unfolded blank, a single uninterrupted closing zone strip which runs round the whole blank and which, at the points where it forms a right angle, is either bent at an angle of 45 by a folding edge or comprises the intersection of two closing zones which are formed on different closing strips treated independently of one another.

The same applies to folding containers which, in addition to one front and two lateral closing strips, also comprise additional closing strips running perpendicular to the latter. The closing zones of these closing strips must also run in such a manner that they intersect those of the lateral closing strips.

Since closing strips thus constructed can be tightly closed without difliculty, steam and aroma-tight folding containers can be produced in a simple manner and with a saving in superfluous blank material, by the method according to the invention, if a suitable blank material is used.

A container which is open on one side may first be folded in, and after constructing the front closing strip of the lid extensions, the lateral closing strips may be sealed or stuck. Any additional closing strips or surfaces of the blank serving as such, may then be sealed or stuck immediately after the folding in, or if necessary later.

It is also advantageous to produce a tube first and subsequently to fold over the side walls. As a result, the method is simplified insofar as one operation is saved and fixing the folded over side walls is omitted.

It may also be an advantage, before or after the production of the tube, to fold over one side wall only, and, if necessary, to seal the corresponding closing strip, and only to fold over the opposite side wall after filling with the goods has been effected laterally. The tube first produced and open at one side offers a convenient means of filling the box, reliable guide means for the goods with which it is being filled being afforded by the side walls, the base and the lid.

In order to fold in the side faces it is also possible ,to proceed according to the invention, in particular in such a manner that pairs of folding triangles provided between the side-wall portions of the blank are folded over the side walls which are not provided with the lid extensions. are very versatile in their uses because first a tube and a container open on one side can equally well be formed. Opening the container is possible both laterally and at the top in a simple manner. In both cases, the container can easily be re-closed so that either the lid extensions or one of the side walls may be finally used as a lid.

A further advantageous embodiment of the method of the invention is characterised in that the lateral marginal strip portions of the lid extensions are provided on extensions forming parts of the side walls, and folded in with the remaining portions of the side walls after closing the front closing strip, forming folding triangles which are preferably folded externally over the side faces. In this embodiment, therefore, the lateral closing strips are not provided on the edges of the container but substantially in the middle of the sides of the container or elsewhere, while the front closing edge, after turning over, terminates with the edge of the container, but may also be arranged elsewhere on the lid or a side face.

According to a further feature of the method, the blank This method of folding and the blank used for it sides whatsoever.

3 may conveniently be creased or furrowed, first in th direction of the closing zone which is to be formed first and then at right angles thereto, before being folded in. This has the advantage that the tube which is to be formed first, for example, can be produced easily.

After sealing or adhesion, the lateral closing strips are preferably bent down over the side walls and fixed thereto. It is also possible, however, to bend the lateral cloS- ing strips upwards over the lid surface and to fix them thereto, in which case the marginal strip portion adjacent the corresponding side wall portion is preferably widened in such a manner that it at least covers the closing strip. In both cases a pleasantly shaped box is produced showing scarcely any interruptions in the walls of the container.

It is also possible, however, to produce a box in a simple manner, wherein the lateral closing strips are bent down and are nevertheless hidden. Such a box simultaneously forms a sealed tear-open box, i.e. a box which, once it has been opened, can no longer be closed in such a manner that the tear is invisible.

According to the invention this is achieved by providing two tabs laterally on the extension provided on the marginal strip of the strip-like lid extension and by folding said tabs over the lateral closing strips, which are bent down and fixed to the side walls, and sticking them thereto.

On opening, the extension serving as a lid is then torn from the tabs and the box can no longer be closed in the same manner as before.

A blank for use with the method of the invention may be characterised in that one of the extensions forming the lid, together with its front marginal strip, is of the same width as the base, while the other extension forms a strip which only covers a small portion of the opening, the larger extension resting on top during folding so that the top of the folding box is formed by a continuous surface which does not include any folding edges detrimental to its appearance.

It is also possible, however, to make the one lid extension wider than the container opening by the height of the front marginal strip, in which case the other extension is preferably correspondingly enlarged. Here too there is then formed a closing strip which projects at one edge of the container and which can then likewise be folded over one side of the container, or which may, if necessary, be turned over before the welding of the lateral closing strips in such a manner that it comes to lie between the strip-like lid extension and the adjacent bent back portion of the lid extension.

It is further possible to provide on the marginal strip of the strip-like lid extension, an extension which, particularly after the folding of the lateral closing strips over the lid, is fixed thereto. This has the advantage that a box is formed which has no more interruptions on its Naturally, the side referred to as the lid may also be used as the base, for example if a window is provided on the opposite side.

A folding container produced by the method of the invention may be characterised in that the extension covering the folded closing strips, or a band, one end of which I is stuck to the corresponding wall of the container, and

if necessary a cover stuck to one side wall, is taken round the box or a portion of the box, its outer end being inserted in a pocket which is formed by folded over portions of side wall, the strip-like lid extension and its bentback marginal strip or corresponding parts of the blank.

In this manner, the surrounding band forms an easily opened lid, attention being drawn to the fact that no damage is caused to the contents as a result of its inser- In order to effect a closure in folding containers comprising folding triangles provided between the sidewall portions, the lid extension may be prpvided with a tab which can be inserted laterally in pockets formed by the folding triangles.

The lid formed from the stuck-on band or a corresponding extension may be stuck to a tear-off surface which is prepared on the corresponding surface of the container and which, on opening of the lid, also effects opening of the actual folding container. In order to prevent leakage points occurring as a result of the preparation of the tear-away surface, said surface may be additionally sealed by welding a thin foil onto the inside of the blank. This foil may either be stuck to the tear-away flap, so that it is removed together therewith, or, if it is a question of a transparent foil, it may be joined only to the parts of the blank which do not belong to the tear-away flap, so that a window is formed after opening the lid.

The folding container produced by the method of the invention may to advantage be further provided with a jacket which, in particular, leaves the side walls which are not provided with folded over closing strips, free. In this manner the closing strips fixed to the side walls are covered so that a folding box of pleasant appearance is produced.

Furthermore, particularly in folding containers having lid-extension tabs stuck laterally, a lid extension which covers the container opening and which is connected to the strip-like marginal strip may be provided with a tear-away window. This tear-away window then lies under the lid, which is sealed before the first opening, and ensures that the box remains closed in a steamtight and aroma-tight manner for'the time being, even after the aforesaid lid has been torn away.

Various embodiments of blanks and folding plans for carrying out the method of the invention and of folding containers produced by the method are illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings in whiGh:

Figure 1 shows a blank for one embodiment of the method of the invention.

Figures 2 to 6 show a folding plan for producing one form of construction of a folding box according to the invention.

Figure 7 shows a fully folded box.

Figures 8 to 10 show one possible means of opening the folding box.

Figure 11 shows a finished and filled window box with the wrapping partially torn away.

Figure 12 shows a modified blank partially folded.

Figure 13 shows a folding box in accordance with Figure 12.

Figures 14, 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d, 15 and 15a show a ,further embodiment of the folding box according to the invention.

Figures 16 to 20 show a blank, a folding plan and a finished folding box in accordance with a further embodiment of the invention.

Figures 21 to 24 show an open and a closed folding box with a lid.

Figure 25 likewise shows a lidded box but modified somewhat in comparison with the previous blanks.

Figures 26 to'34 show a blank, a folding plan, a finished folding box, and folding boxes placed on show, in accordance with another embodiment of the invention.

Figures 35 to 46 show a blank, several folding plans and finished folding boxes in accordance with further embodiments of the invention.

Figures 47 to 53 show a blank, a folding plan and finished folding containers wherein the lateral closing strips are arranged in the middle of the side surfaces.

Figures 54 to 60 show a blank, a folding plan and a finished folding container having seven closing strips.

Figure 61 shows a blank for carrying out the method. Figures .62 to 67 show the folding plan.

figu e .68 ho s the t nsihed b x, o n pen- Ihe lank illust d in figu e 1 compris a ba pairs, are provided between each two side-wall surfaces.

Two opposite side-wall surfaces are provided with extensions 14 and 15 which serve to form the lid. One of these extensions,,for example the extension 14 has the same dimensions as the base surface 1 in the embodiment illustrated. This extension may serve as a lid and is in a position to cover the whole opening of the unclosed folding container.

The extensions may, of course, also have other dimensions. They must merely be in a position jointly to cover the whole opening of the container, and in addition they also comprise a strip for closing the box. Such a strip on the lower extension is indicated at 16. In the present case a corresponding strip is not formed separately on the upper extension, so as to avoid the lid surface being interrupted by a folding edge. Instead, the extension 14 is fixed by its front edge to the extension 16.

The blank is further provided with lateral marginal strips 17 and 18. These marginal strips run without any interruption, one on each side of the blank and bound the lateral edges of the corresponding, portions of the blank. Attention is drawn to the fact that the marginal strips 17, 18, together with the extension 16 and the unereased edge of the extension 14 form an uninterrupted marginal strip which can be stuck or sealed in the form of a closing strip after the blank has been folded.

As can be seen from Figure 2, in order to produce the folding box, the triangles 6 to 13 are first folded in in pairs on the side-wall portions 4 and 5 which are not provided with lid-forming extensions (Figure 3).

At the same time, the portions of the marginal strips 17, 18 bordering on the folding triangles 6 to 13 and the side-wall portions 4 and 5, come to rest against one another.

This folding operation may be carried out in a simple manner on a folding block, attention being drawn to the fact that if foils are used which are lined on one side with synthetic material, the lined sides lie against one another and consequently adhesion can be effected in a simple manner by the action of heat (Figure 3). Since the marginal strip portions are subsequently bent outwards, it is not generally necessary to stick the pairs of folding triangles together on their outer sides by the application of additional adhesive.

i The extensions 14 and 16, which form the lid, are then bent down. In the course of this, all parts of the marginal strips 17 and 18 come to rest on one another on the outside.

Since themarginal strip portions border on the extensions 14 and 15 and the folding triangles 6, 9, 10 and 13 with'folding edges running at an angle of 45, themarginal strip portions adjacent the extensions 14 and 15 now also rest on the marginal strip portions already resting one above the other (Figure 4).

The two extensions 14 and 15 are then joined together. In the present case, this is done by bending the extension 16 back against the extension 15, which has been folded in first and welding it to the edge of the superimposed extension 14. This welding may be effected with the -extension 16 partially erect as indicated in broken lines in Figure 5, so that the welding tool has an adequate operating angle and any goods which happen to be already packed are not affected by the action of-heat during the welding.

The closing strips which project laterally outwards can now be closed by welding or adhesion and folded down over the side walls 4 and 5 and fixed thereto (Figure 6). The finished folding box then has the pleasant exterior shown in Figure 7 and with the exceptionof the closing strips bent down laterally has no folding edges or other --'interru'ptions' on the'outer-surface.- 1

Attention is particularly drawn tothe fact. that-the closing zone between the front edges of the extensions 14 and 16 runs at a right angle to the closing zone between the marginal strip portions on the portions 14, 6, 7, 4, 8, 9, 15, 16 and 14, 13, 12, 5, 11, 10, 15, 16 of the blank. Thus the first-mentioned closing zone cross the lastmentioned closing zones at both sides so that an absolutely reliable closure is assured.

For opening, the closing strip can be bent up at one side as shown in Figure 8. It is naturally an advantage to attach this closing strip only to the side wall so as to enable it to be pulled away easily. By pulling on the marginal strip portion which is adjacent the side wall portion 4 or 5, the closure can then be opened and the corresponding side wall folded down (Figure 9). The contents of the box are then conveniently accessible (Figure 10).

In addition, it may be an advantage to provide the marginal strip portions adjacent the extension 14 with incisions which are not illustrated so that the marginal strip portions are more easily accessible on the side wall surfaces. Rip-threads or other opening means may also be provided.

The opened side walls can easily be closed again as shown in Figures 9 and 8.

The folding box can also be filled for the first time in a corresponding manner. The extension 16 is then merely welded to the front edge of the extension 14 for the time being. Subsequently, the one side wall is folded down, as shown in Figures 9 and 10, and the goods to be packed are then introduced laterally into the folding box. The closure is then likewise effected as shown in Figure 9. Finally, the lateral closing strips may then be sealed and fastened to the side walls.

Particularly when filling the folding box in the manner just described, it is possible to omit completely any sealing of the folding triangles 6 to 13 folded on the folding block. Thus before folding in these folding triangles, it is possible to produce a tube on a suitable folding block by welding the extension 16 to the edge of the extension 14. This tube is then filled after folding up one side wall. Subsequently, the second side wall is then folded up. Finally, the lateral closing strips are sealed.

Since a closing zone is formed right around, a steamtight and aroma-tight closure is also ensured in this case, if a suitable material is used for the blank. The tubes produced accordingly and provided with creased folding edges may conveniently be placed together for dispatch or storage and then welded after being erected and filled.

The opening of the folding container may, of course, also be efiected from the top. For example, an incision may be provided, on the extension 16, which renders it easy to take hold of the front edge of the extension 14 so that this extension can be torn off and if necessary may serve as a lid. Naturally all incisions in the marginal strips must lie outside the closing zone.

Figure 11 illustrates a folding box having a window which may be provided, for example, in the base surface 1. Naturally, a window may also be provided in the lid 14. The folding box provided with a window, and, of course, the folding box illustrated in Figure 17, may be provided with a jacket 19 which preferably runs round the box in the form of a band and leaves the wide walls 2 and 3 free.

It is further possible to bend the lateral closing strips up over the lid extension 14 instead of down over the side walls, and to fix them to said lid extension. In this case, the marginal strip portions adjacent the side surfaces 4 and 5 may be made wider so that, after the closing strips have been stuck to the top, they cover them completely (Figures 12 and 13).

Figure 14 illustrates a blank for a corresponding folding container which may serve as a cigarette carton and which is folded in the manner described above (Figures 14a to 14d). The portion-of the marginal strip 17 ad iacent the side wall surface 4 is extended in such a manner that it engages over the greater part of the surface 14. It is only partially fixed to the surface 14, namely at the points indicated by hatching (Figures 14c) so that a tuck-in pocket is formed. A portion 43 of the marginal strip 18, which is constructed in the form of a tab, can be tucked into this pocket (Figure 15). After the tab 43 has been withdrawn from the pocket, the closure of the cigarette carton can be torn open in a simple manner (Figure 15a). After the removal of cigarettes, the carton can then be tightly closed again because the marginal strips again rest against one another on tucking the tab 43 into the pocket. A lifting strip 44 may be provided in a simple manner by sticking to the base at 45. It may, of course, also be placed round the inserted goods without being secured.

It is also possible to form, on the extension 16 forming part of the marginal strip, a further extension 20, by means of which the closing strips folded over the surface 14 can be covered. Such a blank is shown in Figure 16. Since the extension does not have any sealing action, it is sufiicient for it to be merely partially stuck to the closing strips or to the surface 14 after the container has been folded (Figures 17 and 18) and after it has been placed in position (Figure 19). The box formed in this manner, which in the present case is provided with a window 21, has no interruptions on its outer surfaces and is therefore pleasant in appearance in spite of its simple method of production (Figure 20).

In the folding box illustrated in Figure 21, the extension 20 is extended in such a manner that it engages round the whole folding box. In order to save lined blank material, when this is used, a surrounding band of cheaper material may be used instead which is fixed to the under side of the box so that one end of it terminates at the front edge of the lid extension 14. The extension 20 or the corresponding surrounding band then form a lid 21 which projects over the base 1 (Figure 22). This lid 21 is provided, through an extension 22, with a tab 23 which can be tucked into the pocket between the strip-shaped extension 15 and the adjacent marginal strip portion 16. In this manner, a very convenient lid closure is obtained. The lid extension 22 may be provided at the side with a thumb excision 24 for opening. Figure 24 shows the box with the lid closed.

A tear-away flap 25 may be outlined on the surface 1. The lid 21 is then merely stuck to said tear-away flap so that on opening the lid the actual folding container is rendered accessible simultaneously (Figure 23).

In order to prevent the folding container from becoming pervious as a result of the outlining of the tear-away flap, a foil is stuck under this flap and in particular is sealed to the blank from the inside over the edges surrounding the opening. This foil may be stuck to the tear-away flap so that it is torn away at the same time or it is merely secured to the blank at its edges so that the container remains closed thereby even after being torn open. This is particularly recommended when transparent foils are used because then the contents of the container are visible after opening the lid but are nevertheless still reliably protected from external influences.

A tool constructed substantially in the form of a clip 26 for opening the foil may be detachably secured to the front closing strip so that it is substantially hidden in the tuck-in pocket which is beneath it.

If the tear-away surface 25 is made sufliciently large ,or if substantially the whole base 1 is constructed in such a manner that it can be torn away, then a lidded box for cigarettes can be produced in the same manner and in addition has the advantage that it can conveniently be filled laterally. The strips formed by the remaining portions of the base 1 may also be partially creased in a manner not illustrated, so that they can be partially raised and the opening further enlarged as a result. Such a box. is shown filled in Figure 25. Here, too, the lid can be tucked in under the side wall 3.

With the blank illustrated in Figure 26, a folding plan in accordance with the invention is provided for the construction of the lower portion of the container. As can be seen from Figures 27 to 29, the folding triangles 27, 28 are folded, after the marginal strip portions of the corresponding sides have been placed together and if necessary welded, over the base 1, which later forms the front of the container. The container can then be filled from behind in the position illustrated in Figure 30. The container is then closed, by sealing the front edge of the extension 14 to the marginal strip extension 16 and the lateral closing strips (Figure 31). After folding the lateral closing strip over the back wall, the extension 29, adjacent the marginal strip extension 16, is stuck to the back so that the folded closing strips are no longer visible. The extension 30 is then stuck where indicated by hatching to the tear-away flap outlined at 32. Finally, a tuck-in tab 31 which is provided on the extension 30, is inserted in the tuck-in pocket formed by folding the triangles 27 and 28 over the surface 1 and only partially sticking these portions of the blank together (Figures 32 and 33). The portions 29 and 31 need not be in one piece with the blank. Instead, a separate web of material may be stuck on.

The tuck-in pocket formed between the parts 15 and 16 at the back of the container may be used to secure the container to a frame which is provided with metal sheets or the like which can be introduced into these tuck-in pockets. Figure 34 shows folding boxes in accordance with Figure 33 which are fixed to metal sheets 34 on a display stand and can thus be put on show in a convenient manner. The metal sheets 34 must be somewhat narrower than the extensions 15 and 16. If the filled containers are of considerable weight, these extensions may, of course, be selected so as to be correspondingly larger and they may be widened almost to the size of the base 1. Such containers may then be suspended, under certain circumstances, on horizontally disposed metal sheets.

Figure 26 shows that in this case, too, a closed closing zone is formed all round. The closing zones 32 and 33 are formed when the container is welded on the block in the position shown in Figures 27 to 29, or when the marginal strip portions folded in together with the triangles 27 and 28 are placed on one another and sealed at the folding stage illustrated in Figure 28. The closing zones 32 and 33 and the closing zones of the front closing strip surrounding the parts 14 and 16 intersect the closing zones of the lateral closing strips which are formed subsequently from the marginal strip portions 17 and 18.

The same applies to the blank illustrated in Figure 35. Here, too, the closing zones are indicated as projected on the corresponding marginal strip portions and hatched so that the various intersection points are visible.

The lid extensions are here widened substantially by the height of the marginal strips or marginal strips 35, 36 are added to the lid extensions 14 and 15 and 16.

The side walls are folded in the manner shown in Figures 36 to 38, the folding triangles 27 and 28 being bent upwards and the marginal strip portions adjacent these folding triangles being preferably bent down laterally after the welding.

The extensions 15, 16 are then folded in such a manner that the marginal strip 35 projects to the outside (Figures 39, 40). To this marginal strip there is then welded the marginal strip 36 of the extension 14, after this extension has been folded down (Figures 41 and 42).

Finally, the lateral closing strips may be welded and all the closing strips folded over the extension 14 (Figure 43). A window or a tear-away flap may be provided in the extension 14 as shown in Figure 43, and may be constructed in a similar manner to that already described,

Furthermore, before folding in the lateral closing strips, there may be stuck, for example, to the rear portion 37 of the extension 14, an extension 38 of a lid 39 which may conveniently be introduced by means of a tab-like extension 40 provided on the opposite side, in the tuck-in pocket between the extensions 15 and 16 (Figures 43 and 44). In this case, a tongue 41 is separated from the tuck-in tab 40 by means of incisions, and this is not tucked in but projects on the outside over the side wall 4 and consequently can easily be taken hold of.

The lid may, of course, also be mounted in such a manner that it is not pivotable about the rear edge of the container but about the rear edge of the window or of the tear-away flap.

Before the lateral closing strips are welded, the front closing strip may be turned over towards the inside then the lateral closing strips may be welded. As a result a closing zone is again formed all round because the turned over ends of the closing strip are also treated during the sealing operation (Figures 45 and 46). ,The top of the folding container then has no folded closing strip showing at the front. The lateral closing strips may be folded up or down. Here, too, a lid may be provided in the manner described above, attention being drawn to the fact that the upper front edge of the container, which forms the upper edge of the tuck-in pocket, is particularly stable in the present case as a result of which accidental tearing in of the folding box is prevented. The folding in of the closing strips also prevents the edges of the blank from being visible from the outside.

By using a similar type of folding to that described above,'it is also possible, however, to arrange the lateral closing strips in such a manner that they are formed not on an edge of the container but in the middle of a side wall of the container. Such a blank is shown in Figure 47. With this blank, as in the blank shown in Figure 1, side wall portions 2 to 5 are outlined. Nevertheless, instead of the folding triangles 6 to 13, folding triangles 37 to 40 are provided, corresponding to the folding triangles 27, 28 in Figure 26. These folding triangles and the adjacent portions of the blank are folded in the same manner as illustrated in Figures 27 to 29.

Here, too, extensions 14, 15 and 16 are provided. These extensions are provided with double lateral marginal strip portions, the inner ones of which form part of the side walls of the box after folding, while the outer ones together with the outer edges of the side-wall portion 4 and 5, which here serve as the corresponding marginal strip portions, form the lateral closing strips.

During folding, a tube is first formed by raising the side-walls 2 and 3 and welding the extension 16 to the outer edge of the extension 14, the corresponding portions of the adjacent marginal strips being included in the welding (Figure 48). The side-wall portions 4 and 5 and the triangles 37 to 40 are then folded (Figure 49). The closing strips formed in the middle of the side-walls of the box are then likewise closed and preferably bent over the marginal strip portions of the extension 14, to which they are also secured. The remaining folding triangles are secured to the lateral Wall portions 3 and 4, after being bent over (Figures 50 to 51). In the folding boxes produced in this manner, as in these previously described, no fold passages lead into the interior of the box and all the closing zones intersect so that no leakages can occur. Figure 52 shows the fully folded container.

Filling may conveniently be effected in such a man ner that blank is placed from above on a stack of the goods to be packed. The extensions 14 or 15, 16 are then pushed under the stack and the box is subsequently closed by folding the side portions and welding the closing strips, after having been turned together with the contents.

Attention is particularly drawn to the fact that the folding box described can be produced from a blank which does not have any incisions and that somewhat less material is actually needed for this blankthanfor the blanks previously described. i

Since no portions of the blank are folded over the extension 14 which forms the bottom, it is not necessary to stick a surrounding band or the like to this portion of the container. If a lid is to be provided as in the em bodiments previously described, this lid 21 may be stuck to the side wall 2 so that less blank material is needed than with the lid illustrated in Figures 21 to 23. Nevertheless, the lid may be introduced by means of its tab 23 in the tuck-in pocket between the extensions 15 and 16. Attention is drawn to the fact that the tuck-in tab 23 may be omitted and the lid may be inserted by means of its portion 22, in pockets which are formed by incomplete sticking of the folding triangles 38 and 40 folded over the side wall 3 (Figure 53). Apart from this, the base 1 may be provided with a tear-away flap or the like in the manner shown in Figure 24.

Instead of folding the folding triangles 37 to 40 in the manner shown in Figures 27 to 29, folding may be effected in accordance with Figures 36 to 38. Then no parts need to be folded over the side walls 3 and 4. Apart from this, here, too, as in the folding described above, the front closing strip may be provided at any desired point, provided that the closing zones intersect and that no passages lead into the interior of the folding container at the folding edges.

Figure 54 shows a blank wherein the lateral closing strips are formed in the same manner as the front closring strip. Figure 54 shows that here, too, all the closing zones I to IV intersect. Figures 55 to 59 show how this blank can be folded. Attention is particularly drawn .to the fact the sequence in which the closing strips are welded may be varied to a large extent. folding container (Figure 60) has a pleasant appearance The finished and in spite of the numerous closing strips it can be just as tightly closed as the folding boxes previously de scribed. Apart from the T-shape illustrated, a Z-shape which is not illustrated may also be used, in which the two extensions 41 and 42 are not provided on the sidewall portions 2 or 3, but in which one of these two extensions is provided on the side-wall portion 2 and the other on the side-wall portion 3. If the blanks are cut out of one sheet, this last-mentioned form of blank can represent a saving in material.

The blank illustrated in Figure 61 comprises a base 1, which is bounded by the creased side wall surfaces 2 to 5. Folding triangles 6 to 13, which are arranged in pairs, are provided between each pair of side-wall surfaces. Two opposite side-wall surfaces are provided with extensions 14, 15 which serve to form the lid. One of these extensions, e.g. the extension 14 is the same sizes as the base 1 in the embodiment illustrated. This extension may serve as a lid and is in a position to cover the whole opening in the unclosed folding container. In the present case, this extension is provided with a tear-away window which may, for example, have a foil placed underneath it.

Provided on the lower extension is a strip 16 which may be stuck or sealed to the upper edge of the extension 14 and thus forms a closing strip.

The blank is further provided with marginal strips 17, 18. These marginal strips each run without any interruption along one side of the blank and bound the lateral edges of the corresponding portions of the blank.

On the extension 16 forming a part of the marginal strip, there is formed a further extension 20, by means of which the surface 14 comprising the tear-away flap can be covered. This extension is provided with lateral tabs 121, 122, which are the same size as the lateral wall portions 4 and 5. In addition, the extension 20 e 11 is provided at its front with a. tab 23 which has lateral extensions 124, 125 with tapered edges.

The folding of the blank shown in Figure 61,. which folding is illustrated in Figures 62 to 6:7, is effected in the same manner as previously described.

After the extension 20 has been folded over the lid extension 14, the lateral tabs 121 and 122 are bent down over the downwardly bent lateral closing strips and the side-wall portions 4 and' 5 and are secured thereto. The tab 23 is bent forwards over the side wall 2 and its lateral extensions 124 and 125 are tucked into the pockets formed by the folding triangles 8', 9 and 10, 11.

In order to open the box, the extensions 124 and 125 can be withdrawn from their pockets. Then the tab 23 can be lifted and on further lifting of the extension 20, torn from the tabs 121 and 122. The lid thus formed can, of course, be closed again in the manner described above.

In order to remove the contents from the folding box, the tear-away flap in the extension 14 is torn away.

Attention is drawn to the fact that the above type of closing as well as the types of closing previouslydescribed, may also be used for other means of folding for the side walls. Accordingly, the extensions described may be provided on all the blanks illustrated. In the method of folding the sides just described, a tube may first be formed, on which the sides are then folded.

In all cases, folding containers are produced which are cheap to produce and pleasing in shape and which are steam-tight and aroma-tight if a suitable material is selected.

I claim:

1. A box composed of a single piece of blank material and having a bottom, a front side, a back side, two opposite end sides and a lid all integral with said bottom, foldable portions between the end sides and front and back sides, respectively, a closing extension on said front side, and a sealing marginal strip extending completely around said blank, comprising said foldable portions being folded to lie against said end sides, said closing extension being folded inwardly with the strip portion coextensive therewith being, rebent to overlie said extension and underlie and sealed to the coextensive marginal strip of the lid, and the remaining marginal strips being folded one upon another outwardly of the upper edges of the opposite side ends, and being crossed by the overlaid extension and coextensive marginal strip, and then all of the lapped strips being folded against one of the adjacent box surfaces.

2. A box as in claim 1, said front edge closing extension and said marginal strip coextensive therewith being of equal width.

3. A box as in claim 2, said end sides being unsealed and openable to form a tube adapted to receive the goods to be packed, and thereafter closed and sealed.

4. A box as in claim 3, said remaining marginal strips being folded downwardly against the surfaces of the end sides.

5. A box as in claim 1, said remaining strips being folded against the outer surface of said lid.

6. A box as in claim 1, further comprising an end tab on the marginal strip of side end, said flap being inserted in the pocket formed by the foldable portions on the opposite side end.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,498,673 Reynolds June 24, 1924 2,330,262 Biggs Sept. 28, 1943 2,428,845 Guyer Oct. 14, 1947 2,443,431 Ringler June 15, 1948 2,527,685 Roush Oct. 31, 1950 2,676,747 Lange Apr. 27, 1954 2,692,078 Lange Oct. 19, 1954 2,781,159 Copeman Feb. 12, 1957 

